Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-02-10

tion and after the customary examination
the ordination took place the following day,
July l3, 1896. The public services Of the
occasion were in an open field. The Rev.
Peter Powers of Deer Isle preached the SER
mon. and the Rev. Jonathan Fisher became
the pastor of the Congregational church.
The candidate. the council and the congre-
cation of that occasion "sleep their last
sleep;" not soul remains who, as an eye
witness. can tell us of the scenes and ser
vices of that memorable day f; and respecting
all else silence regns-the silence of the
grave.
Al the time Of the settlement Of the first
minister and for many years after, and. in
fact. from the time the first settlers came
here. let it be remembered the town and
parish were Identical-the town was the
parish and the parish the town, and the
money 10 pay the minister i,r preaching
was raised by the town and assessed on the
polls and estate of all the tax paying people
and orders were drawn by the seleclmsn on
the town treasurer for It's payment.
This practice prevailed till about the year
1912, when one Of the members Of the par
sh and also member Of the church. neg
ecting and refusing to pay the tax assesse /!
against him. a warrant was issued and he
was taken by an officer and lodged in the
jail at Ellsworth, but after remaining there a
month or more. he was, in some way, dis
charged. This unhappy circumstance caused
so much talk and excitement in the com
munity that the town voted to divorce
church and State, and thtreupon the first
parish called meeting and elected their
own officers. such as clerk, treasurer and
collector, parish committee, &c. and opened
a new set of books for their records. and
from that time to the pfesen, the money 10
pay the salary of the minister Of the Congre-
gationai church and TO defray all other CON
tingent expenses has been raised br volun-
tary subscriptions, contributions. donations.
sc. Ihi, ever was and still is, the custom
in the Baptist church and society
In connection With the preceding, as a
matter Of church and town history, think
shall be pardcned for making few more
additional extracts from Very able and
highly interesting address, delivered by
Rev. Stephen Thurs'on. y. D., on the &C.
ca,ion Of the centennial anniNersar, Of the
organization Of the Congregational church
IN B'uehl!i Which think will not be void
OF interest to the people Of tins county, Is.
pec'a.ly to those residing ~ ths western
and southern parts The address was pub
Il'hed IN pamphlet form. and consequently
but very ie" persons have even read or
seen II, and 'hefe seems 10 be no other
available way to reach them than through
the medium Of the AMERICAN. which 5
such a general circulAtIon-and dtseIy,G,y
son thIs county, and elsewhere.
After the settlement OF thtT pastor no
SpecIa. changes occurred li. earl! IN 1893,
when It lo recorded IN connection with
particular disHeUsa'ion Of The doctrines Of
free sovereign grace, eternal eleCuon, Ee-
generation, and justification by faith,
spirit of opposition wa, excited OF the par,
Of some, and Of serious alarm on the part Of
others Short! after, however, there was
general attendance upon the preaching Of
the gospel The spirit was poured upon the
people and sinners h4cked 70 Christ. y
glorious revival soon crowned the labors Of
the youthful pastor, and gave lny to lin and
the angels.
Fity-seven were added to the church that
wear l799.l wear memorable in the his
tory Of this church and Others in thi> region.
have often heard the fathers sneak of tie
great revival in Sedgwick that wear. Itwas
the wear in which my yenera,ed brother.
(the Rev. David lhur,ton.) was broucb, IL
to the kingdom TO preach The ro,pel Of
Christ for almost ,hreescore wears. Not
only Sedswick but Deer Isle and N,.
Desert were the theatre on which were dis
played scenes Of marvellous arace ana mower
But the day OF edver>ity is often
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